Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. has confirmed that Senate Bill 2926 — a bill aimed at helping fund a sports complex in Vicksburg — has died in the Mississippi Legislature.

Flaggs said state Senator W. Briggs Hopson III has indicated the legislation was dead in the Senate. The bill went to the Local and Private Committee where it died.

“We cannot afford to spend taxpayers’ money on an idea, and unless I get the blessing of the Legislature and it gives me the authority to go ahead, the sports complex is dead for the next two years,” Flaggs said Tuesday afternoon. “I’m not going to continue chasing the rabbit that’s got the gun.

“I’m going to focus my attention on capital improvements and infrastructure, overseeing the development of Vicksburg and promoting Vicksburg as an outstanding city without having a sports complex,” he said. “I will not spend taxpayers dollars on an empty hole.”

Hopson is working on a solution to revive the bill.

“It’s not completely dead. I’m working with the Local and Private Committee chairman (Perry Lee, R-Mendenhall) to see what arrangement can be worked out.” Hopson said. “He expressed some concerns about the way the documents were presented by the city and the county.”

“I’m trying to work and see if there’s some way a measure can come out that will help support the ball field complex,” Hopson said.